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Senate Passes Gay Marriage Bill

After hours of debate over the past two days, the full Maryland Senate gave final approval to a bill that would grant same-sex couples full marriage rights in Maryland.

Senators voted 25-21 in favor of the bill shortly after 6 p.m. Thursday.

The bill will next move to the House of Delegates for debate.

The measure, if passed by the House and signed by Gov. Martin O'Malley, was amended to include protections for religious groups and institutions to keep them from being forced to participate in gay weddings.

The bill would grant the same title and rights to same-sex couples that Maryland allows married straight couples.

If the measure becomes law, Maryland would become the sixth state to approve gay marriages.

Senate President Mike Miller said this month that he felt the push toward more rights for gay men and women is part of a national trend.

Many of the senators said their families guided their choices on the issue.

On Thursday, the Senate's only openly gay member, Sen. Richard Madaleno, D-Montgomery County, grabbed the attention of lawmakers by talking about his partner, whom he married 10 years ago.

"He is my spouse in every sense of the word, but to the law, he remains a legal stranger," Madaleno said.

Madaleno and his husband have two daughters.

"Everyone was given a chance to speak. I think everyone spoke from the heart, and in the end, we were able to carry the day," Madaleno said after Thursday's vote.

Bill opponent Sen. Joanne Benson, D-Prince George's County, recalled how her father used to marry couples in her home when she was growing up. She said her father taught her that marriage is only between a man and a woman.

Others agreed.

"Love between a man and a woman that may lead to children is the only love that government has the right to recognize," said Republican Minority Leader Sen. Nancy Jacobs.

"I don't think the votes on that board accurately represent the citizens of the state of Maryland. I think the vote on referendum of 2012 will be the vote of the people, and I believe this deserves to go to the people," Jacobs said after the vote.

One senator urged the body to consider civil unions first.

"We never really took a test drive as to whether we could have solved this without going this route," said Sen. E.J. Pipkin, R-Eastern Shore.

Others relied on their deep-rooted religious convictions for guidance.

"In the Bible, of course, there were time when there was polygamy, and one could say it was based on being in love -- on romantic love. I think the question we have to address when we are defining things in the eyes of the law is, when does it stop?" said Sen. Anthony Muse, D-Prince George's County.

The tone turned political when a few attempted to make the argument that it was a pocketbook issue.

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